My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
Strength is one of those things that waxes and wanes, varies from person to person and can be considered in terms of physical, mental and spiritual attributes. No matter what aspect is being considered, at the core of this discussion we must remember that any form or degree of strength that we have is provided and sustained by our Heavenly Father in Christ. Physical illness certainly has a way of undermining our strength, but doesn’t any trial sap our ability to function in one form or another? My health issues have left me with chronic fatigue that is quite unpredictable. I can tell you what things will exacerbate it, but have yet to find ways to prevent it. Then there is mental fatigue; struggles are so mentally draining. Finally, and most importantly, there is spiritual exhaustion often, but not always, brought on by physical stress and/or mental lethargy. Yet in all of these, God is faithful to provide what we need in these areas when we look to Him.
When we think of strength, our first thoughts usually go to physical strength. I have a framed poster in my office which depicts Isaiah 40:31: “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” I believe this and have seen evidence of it in my own life. Many times I feel that my body is too weak to be useful. My lack of strength has deprived me of my ability to maintain and job, it has kept me from events and it will continue to fade as I age. However, there have been occasions when God has called me to a task that I just didn’t feel that I had the ability to complete. Yet I found that when I was obedient and trusted Him to provide, I received what was needed to fulfill the obligation, not an overabundance, but what was truly needed. More often than not, it’s more about looking for God’s guidance to determine which things that we’re supposed to do rather than having the physical strength to accomplish all of the things that we want or feel that we should do. It’s a matter of godly discernment.
“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” These words quoted in Nehemiah 8:10 were the counsel to the children of Israel after they had returned from captivity, heard God’s law and its explanation, and been confronted with their sin. In short they were overwhelmed. The leaders encouraged them by reminding them that their strength rested in the “joy of the Lord”. Often we are so overwhelmed by trials or sin that we just can’t function mentally. Yet when we recall the promises of God, praise Him in our time of trouble, and remember that He is always our source of strength and that we are not alone, our spirits are lifted and we are able to continue. While the problem(s) may still exist, the mental weight is lifted so that we can meet the challenge. By relying on God’s strength rather than our own, we are renewed to move forward with skill and confidence. Habakkuk put it this way “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”(3:19 NIV)
Spiritual weakness is the worst. My soul is often fine even when my body or mind is failing. However, when my soul is struggling, I find it hard to meet the smallest challenge. I may get through the task or the day, but it will be laborious. Psalm 42:5 says: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” It is in these moments that we must draw close to Him with prayer and time spent reading His word so that our souls can be invigorated. When we turn to Him we can echo Psalm 119:50: “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.”
On occasion, God protects and/or teaches us to rely on Him by providing strength apart from our personal involvement. Consider the Israelites crossing the Red Sea; it was a great show of strength on their behalf to protect them from the Egyptians and to build their trust in God. Remember also Daniel in the lions’ den. God protected him and taught the king that the Lord is in control. It is in those moments that we can proclaim “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)
Whatever you are facing and no matter how weak you may be God is always ready and able to strengthen and sustain you when you turn to Him rather than trying to be self-reliant. If you are feeling weak and frail, seek the Lord’s guidance and remember that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) Also, receive reassurance from the passages below.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Psalm 28:7-8
O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of distress. Isaiah 33:2
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10